Surrendering (Surrender 1)
“Probably.”
He chuckles as he swings his legs over the bed. He lifts me and carries me to the shower.
Chapter 35
Valentine’s Day
It’s been three and a half weeks since we launched our project. As expected, Sayge has a massive local following. And since they recorded a few of their songs on a CD, they have secured a spot at some of the best stages around our area. They recently got word they would be playing the Main Street Festival in Franklin in April. Jay’s been great and even more fun to work with. He’s been taking a great interest in my group work, asking for all the data numbers. He’s using the data as leverage with his company to break away from just scouting; he’s working towards representing.
Finn hasn’t been able to get anything on our stalker yet, but he said there was a partial print on the note on my car. It was blurry, but he’s still trying to work with it. I’ve received a few hang up’s at my house, but nothing else. The only thing big that happened was an anonymous post on Sayge’s Facebook page. It was the image of a man against a wall with a woman giving him head. His hands were shoved in her hair with his head thrown back. To an outsider, it just looked like smut. But to me, I knew it was Declan with a random girl in the back of a bar. I removed it immediately, but called Declan and Finn to let them know it had happened. Finn looked into it, but he didn’t get any leads. Declan knew it bothered me and he tried repeatedly to make me forget the image in my head. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t get a blow job for two weeks.
Tomorrow is Friday and it’s also Valentine’s Day. Declan has made plans for us, but he won’t tell what they are. I did some shopping and picked up some lingerie, but had no idea what kind of dress to buy. I enlisted Abbi and she
helped me pick out a slinky, strapless red dress with lace overlay.
I have a project to work on so I’ve decided to spend some time at the library. The band’s playing tonight so Declan and I won’t see each other until tomorrow after class.
After three solid hours of studying accounting and finance, I close down my laptop and get ready to leave. When I get to my car, there’s a note under my windshield wiper. I break out in a cold sweat and look around to make sure no one’s watching me. I don’t see anyone so I pick-up the note from the corner so as not to contaminate it with my fingerprints. The message is in blood red fingernail polish again.
FUCKING WHORE
I lock myself in my car and call Finn. He doesn’t answer, but I leave a message. I know Declan isn’t near his phone so I send him a text to call me.
When I get home, I take a hot bath and crawl into bed after setting the alarm. I start on a new book and try to distract myself from that stupid fucking note. I fall asleep engulfed in my romance novel.
The beeping of our house alarm wakes me up. I hear it cut off and wonder if Abbi and Ella just got home. There’s a knock at my door, but before I can say anything, Declan lets himself in.
“Baby, you decent? Finn’s with me.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Come on in.” I turn on the bedside light and reach for my backpack to give them the note. Declan has a look on his face that I can’t read. He looks sad.
“Hey, Baby Girl, got your message a little while ago and I called Declan to come over here with me. Let me see the note.”
I hand it to him and they both read it.
“I’ll take it with me and let you know if I find anything. No more library by yourself. This person is still watching you and it makes me nervous. They knew you were alone tonight. They could have tried to hurt you.”
“Okay, I won’t go anywhere unless I’m with someone or going to a public place.”
Finn nods and kisses my forehead before he leaves. He exchanges a look with Declan, but doesn’t say anything. He shuts the door behind him and Declan sits on the bed next to me. He hugs me tight. “I’m gonna take a quick shower and sleep here tonight. Be right back.”
A few minutes later, he walks to his side of the bed, drops his towel, and climbs in. “I’m so fucking sorry, Raven. This is all because of me. Even though this crazy hasn’t directly threatened us, I feel like you’re in danger. Are you going to leave me?”
“No, it’s not your fault, Declan. You had a rowdy lifestyle before we met. You have no idea how much I hate this, but we need to continue on like we’re unaffected by it until Finn finds this person.”
“I went crazy tonight when Finn came to get me. I’m so pissed that they messed with you while you were at school studying.”
“I can’t quit living my life, Dec. We have to go on.”
He kisses my head and rubs my back until I doze off again.
*****
The next day, Declan picks me up from school. Instead of driving me home, he drives us to the airport. I give him a puzzled look, but he ignores me.
When we get to the Southwest Airlines counter he pulls me to the side and doesn’t let me see him check-in. He continues to be elusive through security. We stop at a restaurant and he orders us a beer. He sits at the bar without looking directly at me.
“Okay Declan, where’re we going?”